Slice of Life: ‘I did not get a good education, but I have not given up on my dreams’

I  was born and brought up in Chennai. My father works in a furniture store and my mother is a homemaker. Even though his earnings are meagre, my father made sure that my sister goes to college. But, because of the financial constrains in the family, I was not able go to college. So, immediately after finishing school, I started working as a food delivery boy.

There are various problems that those like me face in this job. People don’t give us even the basic respect because we are more like servants to them. If they face some problem with the food, customers quarrel with us even if it is the restaurant’s fault.

On some days, even if we deliver ten orders, we receive payment for only five. I also work part-time in an automobile outlet. When I don’t have enough food delivery orders, I deliver spare parts to customers and the automobile shop owners. Because I did not get a good education, I can’t get a better job, and have to depend on such jobs. But, I have not given up on my dreams. I earn about Rs 9,000 – Rs 10,000 per month and have been saving whatever little I can to take up media studies because I want to learn photography and videography.